In this study, PM2.5 samples were collected synchronously at Gaoxin and Linxiao in Luoyang City during autumn and winter (4 October 2018 to 30 January 2019). Sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with fine particulate matter were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations and composition characteristics of the PAHs on clean and polluted days were studied. Diagnostic ratio analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify the emission sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs and the equivalent carcinogenic concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) model were applied to evaluate health risks. During the sampling period, the concentrations of PAHs at Gaoxin and Linxiao ranged 24.33-90.26 ng·m-3 and 23.81-76.99 ng·m-3, respectively. With the increase in PM2.5 pollution, PAH concentrations increase significantly (the mean PAH concentration on polluted days was approximately 1.3 times higher than during clean days). PAH profiles at different polluting levels were similar; 4-ring PAHs (43%-48%) > 5-6 ring PAHs (32%-35%) > 2-3-ring PAHs (20%-22%). Diagnostic ratios and PCA demonstrated that PAHs in the study area were mainly derived from combustion sources including coal combustion, biomass burning, and motor vehicle emissions. The coal combustion was the main pollution source in the study area (clean days=49.28%-56.38%, polluted days=49.44%-60.60%). The results of the equivalent carcinogenic concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and ILCR model revealed that the human health risk on polluted days was higher. Moreover, the cancer risks from adult exposure to PAHs were higher than those child exposure, which has an acceptable level of risk (<10-6).
Keywords: clean days; coal combustion; incremental lifetime cancer risks; pollution days; principal component analysis.